Laser Hair Removal After Lower Facelift/neck Lift?

The answer to your question depends mostly on your recovery, and partially on what modality is being used for hair removal and who is performing the procedure. I would want all your bruising and a good portion of your (acute) swelling to have resolved before proceeding --  say 6-8 weeks at the earliest to be safe. Your surgeon should be able to provide guidance for you since s/he knows your surgery and recovery the best.  Best wishes.

Ken Dembny

I suggest you consult the board certified facial plastic surgeon who performed your lower facelift and neck lift procedures. Not only would the board certification ensure you
receive the highest quality knowledge, treatment, care and skill available, but the consultation will provide you the opportunity to relay your
concerns and desired outcome to the surgeon while the surgeon - whom you already trust - can assess your
health profile and discuss his/her pertinent advice. Each patient is different. For example. some lower facelift patients may begin to use patient one week after surgery. Ultimately, your decision to have laser hair removal
will depend on your personal healing process. Meticulous technique and
attention to detail by your surgeon may allow you to go through with the laser hair removal sooner rather than later.

You can have laser chin hair removal following a face lift at any time as the skin is not undermined in this area with a facelift. 

Thank you for the great question. Generally speaking, the chin skin is not elevated or undermined during a facelift.  So, the concerns about "double-stressing" this area would not likely be an issue. Please check with your surgeon first, but 4 weeks or so should be fine.
 

I would wait until you are healed with no skin irritation.

 

 

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Dear Rebekah,

Thank you for your question. If laser is avoided over tissue that has been elevated then you are safe early on.  If this is on the front of the chin, then the tissue is still 'virginal' and not lifted off the deeper structures.  If this is on the skin that was elevated, than this should be avoided for 6 - 8 weeks.

Best Wishes,

PAblo Prichard, MD

There is no hard and fast answer to this question. I usually advise between 6 and 8 weeks between a facelift procedure and any type of laser procedure for my facelift patients. The addition of a laser can add to the intensity of the swelling and the duration of the healing process. Be as patient as you can and let your face heal. 

A good guideline would be 6  - 8 weeks before you do anything that would be harsh or abrasive to your skin after a facelift. 

I do not do laser hair removal but in general I can say the following.  Since you have stressed the facial area with surgery, do not double stress it until you are 2 months down the road.  Laser Hair Removal can cause burns and you want substantial healing and feeling in the area before another trauma.  So wait 2 months.  This is a little conservative, but in these situations caution pays off.  My Best,  Dr C

Laser hair reduction of the chin area should be safe fairly soon after facelift surgery as along as the skin was not undermined (usually not) and there is no surface bruising or irritation. In general, about 4 to 6 weeks should be plenty of time to heal with the above comments in mind.